What's next for Southampton? Ings, transfers, Premier League

The 29-year-old's swift departure leaves many unanswered questions but now opens the door for arrivals, and makes August a month to watch again on the transfer front.

Significant squad investment was simply not possible without. 

With the Premier League season starting for Ralph Hasenhuttl at Goodison Park in just over a week, we ask: 'What's next for Saints?'

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A frontman in waiting?

Well, quite clearly what lies in the immediate future for Saints is replacing the sizeable chasm left in the squad by Ings’ shock departure. That, however, is much easier said than done – although Ralph insists it can, and will, be done.

He had said this week: "We can replace him with the money we have got." "We know that we need maybe two more players. So we must always look that we buy players a little bit cheaper and sell players a little bit more expensive. This is our business. This is how we are working here.”

The obvious suggestions are long-term targets Adam Armstrong, but with every passing day the reported £20m+ value Blackburn are slapping on the 24-year-old looks like it could price him out of a Premier League move – with Crystal Palace and Norwich City also circling.

Reports suggest Saints are also linked with Red Bull Leipzig striker Alexander Sorloth, who after a year with the Austrian boss’ German side will be familiar with the style of play he dictates.

However, the 25-year-old scored 0 goals in 16 Premier League games for Crystal Palace after he joined them in January 2018.

A third name, and the only seasoned Premier League name, linked with Saints is Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham. Abraham, 23, is a Champions League winner, an international goalscorer for England (1) and netted 15 in 34 league appearances for the Blues in the 2019-20 season.

He didn’t feature all that much last season (22, many off the bench) and only bagged six goals as a result, but it’s his busy nature and persistence that gets him notches, rather than clinical finishing.

If that finishing were to improve still, he could easily eclipse the scoring potential of the man he would replace. Saints would want a loan while Chelsea would want to sell, and his fee and wages would be a huge expense.

To add, Hasenhuttl did say about his squad needing to add "three or four more goals each", referring to the likes of Che Adams, Nathan Tella and Theo Walcott - who without replenishment will have to lead the line themselves.

One thing must be certain though, that Saints will bring in a replacement striker. The consequences are far too great if they don’t.

Tammy Abraham (right) has left a lasting impression at Bristol City and Aston Villa with successful loan spells - as well as scoring regularly when awarded chances at Chelseaa

“Two more players?”

Reports suggest that Hasenhuttl would also like a further addition who can operate in a defensive midfield capacity as well as centre-back, but a back-up left-back is also likely on the agenda.

Someone like Borussia Dortmund’s Thomas Delaney would cover that first option, but the 29-year-old may be seen as a bit of a coup and cost his current club £20m three years ago.

Hibernian left-back Josh Doig, 19, has been removed from the first-team squad ahead of their Europa Conference League third round first-leg qualifier against HNK Rijeka, amid transfer links.

Hibs manager Jack Ross has said: “He said: “As a club we need to take control of the situation. I’m also very conscious of Josh’s welfare as a young man.

“He is still young and has been through a lot in a short period of time. From a football point of view we need to bring the situation to a head one way or another.”

Initially it was Burnley and Watford who were reported to lock horns over his signature, but he’s the sort of calibre of back-up and potential that perhaps Saints could target – with 18-year-old Tino Livramento providing exactly that on the opposite side.

With £28m being freed up by Ings’ transfer, after £2m is paid to Liverpool as part of a profit sell-on clause – and Saints being unlikely to put all of that onto one player – supporters will hope to see a generous spread of spending.

Thomas Delaney (left) is Jannik Vestergaard's international teammate and a five-time Danish League winner

A transfer battle?

Transfers can often feel like a grim war of attrition, speculation about your team’s key men heading to rival clubs with no sign of incomings on the horizon, and seemingly no end in sight. Granted, it’s probably not like that at every club.

The Ings deal was the opposite though – he even called it the “best kept secret” when speaking to Villa’s club media. It came out of nowhere and ripped through the excitement at St Mary’s, not even the players - his teammates - knew. I’m not sure what’s worse.

It won’t stop there though, for Saints fans. The club face the potential exit of Danish centre-back Jannik Vestergaard if an acceptable value is matched, thought to be in the region of £20m-30m.

The European Championship semi-finalist has just a year left on his contract and has been linked with moves to the likes of Spurs and West Ham.

Then there will be the constant rumour mill of skipper James Ward-Prowse, although the Daily Echo firmly understands that the club have no intentions of letting him go this window and the injured midfielder has been open about being seen in and around the dugouts during all of Saints’ friendlies.

The Daily Echo understands the club are extremely reluctant to let captain James Ward-Prowse go this summer

The daunting start…

The start to the 2021-22 Premier League campaign was not going to be easy as it is, Saints could have very few points still weeks into the season.

They face Everton, Manchester United, Newcastle, West Ham and Manchester City in the first five with only the United and Hammers fixtures at the newly renovated St Mary’s.